Applications Sought to Replace Judge James Mazzone on First Judicial Circuit Bench

Joselyn King

Staff Writer

The West Virginia Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is accepting applications from attorneys wanting to be judge in the 1st Judicial Circuit.

The commission has set the timeline for filling the seat previously held by James P. Mazzone, who resigned to become U.S. Magistrate effective Sept. 4. Senior Status Judge Arthur Recht was recalled to the 1st Circuit to sit on the bench until a successor is named.

Interested applicants have until Oct. 9 to submit their applications and letters of recommendation to the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission, c/o Brian Abraham, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., East, Charleston, WV 25305. Letters of comment or concern regarding candidates will be accepted through Oct. 16, according to Debra Scudiere, chairwoman of the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission.

She said interviews for the job will take place Oct. 23, but also “could be combined for efficiency” with those scheduled for a 12th Circuit seat Oct. 24.

At least two candidates for the 1st Circuit seat — up to as many as five — will receive the recommendation of the committee, and these recommendations will be sent on to Gov. Jim Justice for consideration, according to Scudiere.

“We will deliberate after the interviews, and try to get the names to the governor within a day,” she said.

Under West Virginia Code, the commission has 90 days from the time the vacancy begins to submit the names to the governor. The governor then has 30 days in which to appoint one of the recommended candidates.

The application is 23 pages long and asks applicants for information not just about their law experience, education and overall health, but also for details on what books they have written and to what social media platforms they subscribe.